Ottumwa man pleads guilty in internet sex case

A 24-year-old Ottumwa man has pleaded guilty to charges for trying to set up a meeting for sex with a 14-year-old girl in northeast Iowa. John Townsend has submitted a guilty plea to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

Townsend admitted that on several occasions last year he used the internet to contact a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl living in Evansdale, and attempted to arrange fore her to have sex with him and other adult males.

Townsend was actually in contact with an undercover Black Hawk County Sheriff’s deputy. Townsend now faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison when he’s sentenced July 17th.